May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

As you all know, I had to put down my almost 15 years old "sister" Jewel. Although I am not completely healed and I still cry over her, I think she has pointed my family and I into the direction of a new furry family member. Some people may think I sound crazy that I believe this her doing, but that's just your opinion lol. And we all know the saying about opinions lol.

Anyway, over the weekend, my former high school English teacher shared a picture of a bloodhound on Facebook from the local Animal Control page. I knew the Humane Society had a page, but I did not know that Animal Control had one as well. I believe Jewel was using my former teacher to point out the bloodhound. The timing is quite strange because a) it is my dad's turn to pick the next pet and to name him/her b) he has always wanted a blood hound.

I showed my mom and dad the picture and whatnot, and we all fell in love. We prepaid the adoption so he could be ours. Since he looks like he may be a pure breed, animal control has to hold him for about a week for an owner to come forward and claim him. The owner has until tomorrow. If the owner really cared, I believe he or she would have come forward sooner. I don't think the person will because it looks like he has been roaming for a while. He is skinny, especially at the waist.

Lanndan and I went to meet him yesterday, and he has some of Jewel's personality. I about cried when we left Animal Control. I think Brutus will love his future brother. Brutus has been lonely, too. I've seen him look at Jewel's grave, especially when I visit it. He's also been in his dog house more.

Here are some pictures Lanndan and I took.

Bloodhound kisses

You can see how skinny he is in this picture, and he is shedding his winter coat.

I have a picture of Jewel where she looks at the camera exactly like he did.

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

first time poster here. I am so very touched by your story and posts, I had to chime in! First, you have my deepest condolences on the loss of Jewel. I have 3 rescue dogs myself as well as my own rescue group. I always say that the price we, as humans, unfortunately pay for all the unconditional love and adoration our beloved pets give us is the grief we feel when their relatively short lives end. As heartbreaking as the loss and grieving is, isn't it actually worth it when you consider all the love our fur kids give us? Each time I lose a dog I break and think I can never go through that kind of loss again. But then, I always adopt again and, whilst the grief remains, I honor my departed pets by giving a home and love to other needy animals. Dogs are so pure-hearted...I believe Jewel would love nothing more than to know that you have opened your heart and home to another dog. And there is zero doubt in my mind that Jewel led you to Meat Head. At the very least, she, by being your sweetest friend and "sister", "trained" you and your family to both show and accept love and compassion towards and from her canine kin!

I wish you many, many years of love and fun with Meat Head. Yes, he does need fattening up! You are correct in looking for a high protein food for him, preferably grain-free. He also needs fat in his diet, literally. That will help his coat too. You might want to look into adding salmon oil to his food to help him get his coat back to a normal, healthy shine. Eggs can help too, shells and all!

Thank you so much for adopting your precious and gorgeous new "bro!" He is so lucky to have you, just as Jewel was. I hope you won't mind if I name one of my next adoptable female rescues Jewel...your story touched me to the degree that I'd really like to do so in memory and honor of your blessed, departed girl. The love you obviously shared with her is quite an inspiration. Bless you and your lovely, compassionate family!

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

Thank you so much, madcarlotta! Reading your post has made my day! It made me smile and tear up a bit, but that was in a good way. It is amazing how animals can be so loving to humans. I believe there are people in this world that need to learn from animals. If they did, the world would be a much better place.

That is so awesome how you have your own rescue!! I volunteer with different organizations, but I haven't had time lately due to my school schedule. I miss it! I've already told my fiance that I want to foster a dog or cat someday, and he is up for it, too.

I will show this post to my mom and dad and see what we can whip up for him to eat. He is playing more now with Brutus and toys. It seems all of his running around burns off what he eats. I love that he is happy and playing, but he needs to be lazy for a day or two after eating lol.

I believe Jewel would love for you to name a female rescue after her, and I love that idea as well. I know she will watch over the rescue girl and all of the other rescues. Also, welcome to BT!!!!

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

@kimmi1115- You know that they have souls,emotions,etc. Look at the way your other dog Brutus was when Jewel went to the BIG doghouse in the sky. He was sad and no your not crazy for saying that I think that too.

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

I do believe Jewel lead us to Meat Head. So far no one thinks I'm crazy for saying that, but I have a friend from high school who didn't believe that animals had emotions, souls, etc. I about fell out of my chair when she told me that,

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

I believe Meat Head's first weekend at his forever home was an awesome one. The weather was beautiful, and he had a fun weekend of playing with people and Brutus. Although Brutus has some issues when it comes to sharing food, he has been getting along well with Meat Head. They were playing tug-o-war and chase yesterday!

It took Meat Head a couple of days before he started playing with toys. Now, he loves them! He had two in his mouth at one point! Brutus is more for wrestling and sitting on people. His favorite person to on is me lol.

Here are some pictures of his first weekend. Sorry for the picture spam lol.

The Slobber Brothers!!!!!

I predict they will soon sit on me at the same time lol.

He loves to shake hands. He tends to ask people to shake before they have to chance to ask lol. I believe he is a gentleman.

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

Thanks, and I believe he is happy, too. He and Brutus have been playing together more, especially with the toys. Meat Head seems to like the floppy toys that don't have stuffing, but those are not lasting too long with him lol.

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

Yesterday, my parents and I worked on introducing Meat Head to Brutus. For the most part, it went well. Brutus does not like to have his ears sniffed, and he seemed iffy at times. Although it went well for the most part, we added a center fence section just to be safe, especially through the night. However, nothing major happened. They are both really good boys, and I believe they will be awesome "slobber brothers." lol.

I also believe that he may have been beaten by a previous owner. Dad used the hammer to bust out a section of the dog house door to widen it after using the jigsaw (temporary fix until he gets a new dog house built). The steady noise of the saw didn't bother Meat Head, but the noise from the hammer scared him. He gave a painful whine and laid down, and he was not near the dog house. He was probably beaten and/or was "gun shy" as Lanndan described. Apparently, some hunters can be cruel and abandon animals that are gun shy.

Jewel knew we would love and protect him. I didn't have my camera on me outside yesterday during the introductions, but I did snap this picture with my phone.

The first picture was taken by the Humane Society when my dad and I picked him up after he got off work. You can tell he is trying to hide that grin, but he couldn't fool me! lol. Mom had to work over time, so she got a surprise when she got home!

These are from when we got him to the wood shop for the night. You can easily see he needs some meat on his bones.

He is also shedding a bit more than normal due to his past lack of nutrition.

(Before dad swept up the cedar shavings) Meat Head: "I smell...*sniff sniff* cedar shavings from wood used to build furniture. Wait! *sniff sniff* A 4 or 5 piece cedar bedroom suite to be exact!" lol He was smelling everything in the shop lol.

Nala (the once extremely skinny cat that found us): "What is the thing that slobbers doing in my shop?"

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

Your family looks so happy! That picture of you and your Dad is priceless, the Humane Society did a great job capturing the "completeness" of you all!

I have a gun-shy rescue myself, he hides under the table whenever there's a shot from someone hunting, even if it's a long way off. My dog is also afraid during thunderstorms, but we just snuggle him close and he's ok. It's so sad to imagine what pet's have gone through before them come to us, but looks like Meat Head is found his forever loving home.

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

kimmi I'm so glad Meat Head is fitting in so well with your family (furry members included)! Thanks for sharing your photos, I love the one of the suspicious Nala, and can see you guys and Meat Head having many wonderful adventures together in the near future

Re: May Be Getting A New Furry "Brother"

My dad and I brought him home last night! Dad decided to name him Meat Head. He is named after the golden lab my papaw once had. He was an excellent dog, and he would follow my papaw wherever he went, including when he was on the tractor. After that, he would chill under the shade tree with him. The name does fit the goofy bloodhound's personality.

I can tell my dad is absolutely in love. He tried to hide the grin on his face because he knew I had my camera, but he didn't fool me lol. Since it was rainy and whatnot yesterday, Meat Head spent the night in the woodshop. We didn't want to spook him or anything by introducing him to Brutus in the rain and whatnot, He didn't even offer to bug the barn cat, Nala, either. He only wanted to sniff her lol.

He is as sweet as can be, and apparently he knows how to shake! He put his paw up to my dad, and he just lit up! Meat Head does need some meat on his bones. The vet gave him some meds for hook worms, and that is part of the reason he is skinny. Who knows what he ate while roaming around. Other than that, he is healthy.

I'm going to stop by the vet's office on the way in from school and see what kind of a high protein food they would recommend for him. He weighs 70 lbs, and, according to the internet, bloodhounds are supposed to weigh between 90 and 100/110 pounds depending on the height. I'll do some more research into the breed, too. I'm 90% sure he is pure bloodhound. If he's mixed with something else, it would have to be another type of hound. I will post pictures that I take this weekend if that is ok with you all. If it's annoying, just say the word lol.